Is í an Ghaeilge teanga náisiúnta na hÉireann agus is cuid dhílis dár ndúchas í. Tá traidisiún uasal ag baint le Maigh Nuad mar ionad oideachais Gaeilge le breis is dhá chéad bliain: bunaíodh cathaoir sa Ghaeilge i gColáiste Phádraig in 1795 agus is ag cur leis an oidhreacht sin atá Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, an institiúid a bunaíodh in 1997. Sa lá atá inniu ann, is in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad atá an Cumann Gaelach is sine sa tír seo agus tá na ranna acadúla a phléann leis an nGaeilge inti ar thús cadhnaíochta i dteagasc, tástáil agus taighde na Gaeilge. Is institiúid phoiblí í Ollscoil Mhá Nuad atá faoi réir ag creat soiléir reachtaíochta agus polasaí ó thaobh chur chun cinn na Gaeilge de. Is in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 agus Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 a leagtar síos an ceart chun Gaeilge a úsáid le comhlachtaí poiblí, agus na dualgais atá ar chomhlachtaí poiblí ar nós ollscoileanna ó thaobh seirbhísí, comharthaí agus cumarsáid dhátheangach. Is é an sprioc atá ag polasaí teanga an rialtais le fada seirbhís cheart dhátheangach a chruthú, agus aithnítear an ról lárnach atá ag institiúidí poiblí amhail an ollscoil chun an aidhm sin a bhaint amach. Tá polasaithe na hOllscoile ag teacht leis na gealltanais náisiúnta sin. Gealltar in Plean Straitéiseach Ollscoil Mhá Nuad 2023–2028 go ‘leanfaimid le cultúir éagsúla na hÉireann agus le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge mar chuid lárnach agus saibhrithe de bheatha ár gcampais a chothú, agus le tacaíocht a sholáthar dóibh’ agus táthar ‘tiomanta don Ghaeilge a leabú ar fud ár gcampais fhisiciúil agus dhigitigh, do bharr feabhais a chur ar a feiceálacht agus chun deiseanna a mhéadú dá húsáid inár gcuid oibre agus i mbeatha an champais’ (l. 26). Is é an sprioc sa pholasaí náisiúnta agus i straitéis na hOllscoile campas a fhorbairt a mbeidh an Ghaeilge mar chuid nádúrtha fheiceálach den ghnáthshaol ann. Irish is the national language of Ireland and a core part of the country’s cultural identity. Maynooth has a proud tradition as a centre of Irish language education for over two hundred years: a Chair of Irish was first established in St Patrick’s College in 1795, a legacy continued by Maynooth University since its establishment in 1997. Today, Maynooth University is home to the oldest Irish-language student society in the country and to academic departments at the cutting edge of Irish-language teaching, testing and research. As a public institution, Maynooth University operates within clear legislative and policy frameworks for the promotion of Irish. The Official Languages Act 2003 and the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 establish the right to use Irish in the public sector and place obligations on public bodies, including universities, in relation to bilingual services, signage and communications. More broadly, the language policy of successive governments has had as its goal the creation of a truly bilingual public service, and public sector institutions such as universities are recognised as key players in achieving that aim. The University’s own policies echo these national commitments. The Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2023–2028 pledges to ‘embrace and support the diverse cultures of Ireland and the promotion of the Irish language as an integral and enriching part of our campus life’ and commits to ‘embedding the Irish language across our physical and digital campus, enhancing its visibility and increasing opportunities for its use in our work and campus life’ (p. 26). In short, both national policy and the University’s strategy envisage a campus where Irish is a natural and visible part of daily life.